SA go down in Stuttgart

Updated: September 18, 2010

The German combination of Andreas Beck and Christopher Kas defeated South Africa’s Wesley Moodie and Rik de Voest in a doubles rubber that went to four sets to go 3-0 up and take an insurmountable lead in the Davis Cup World Group play-off in Stuttgart on Saturday.

Beck and Kas romped away in the third set to seal a 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 win and secure victory for the hosts in the tie after South Africa lost both singles matches on Friday’s opening day, reports Sapa.

Doubles specialist Jeff Coetzee, originally expected to partner Moodie for the crucial encounter, couldn’t shake off a hamstring injury and was replaced by De Voest at the last minute.

And while De Voest has played, and won, with Moodie this season, the visitors were placed on the back foot before the match even started.

Without the accomplished pairing of Moodie and Coetzee, both ranked among the top 100 doubles players in the world, South Africa took another blow, after already losing world No 65 Kevin Anderson on the eve of the tie, and while Moodie and De Voest put up a good fight, particularly in the first two sets, the home side took control in the third to run away with it.

Having traded blows with the tourists for the first six games, Germany broke in the seventh to take the lead and held serve to bag the opening set.

The South Africans, however, held their nerve, breaking service in the fourth game of the second set to stave off the hosts and draw matters level at 1-1.

But with a lively crowd behind them, the Germans broke in the third and fourth sets, holding serve again to secure themselves a place in the prestigious World Group for the sixth year in succession.

The reverse singles, both dead rubbers, will be played on Sunday, with South Africa’s only remaining goal to save face and prevent a whitewash.

South Africa will play again in Group One of the Europe/Africa Zone in the international team competition next season.